“Okay,” I say, scrolling.“It could be a common cold.”
“Good.”
“Or RSV, which is basically like a cold but worse.”I bring my fingers to my lips, biting my nails.
Easton’s head snaps up.
“Or hand, foot, and mouth.”My heart rate picks up speed.Maybe the pediatrician is the way to go.
“Hadley—”
“Or—” I scroll further.“Okay, we’re ignoring that one.That’s not it.”
“What was it?”
“Doesn’t matter.Do we have saline drops?”
“I don’t know.Were they in the bin?”I can hear the panic edging into Easton’s voice.
I wave him off.“Never mind, it says to try a steam shower, but first pain meds to get the fever down.”I grab the baby medicine, double-checking the dosage.
Once we get him to take the medicine from the syringe—which is a little too easy—we hope that works to calm him down as much as possible.
“Steam shower?”I suggest, never knowing when I might be overstepping since I’m not Tanner’s parent.
“Okay.”He hands Tanner to me and goes into the bathroom.
I rock Tanner, whispering to him that it’ll be okay, knowing full well nothing I say matters.He calms slightly, but then he coughs and cries again.
I hate seeing him so upset.It makes me want to cry.
I join Easton in the bathroom.The steam is building, so I sit on the bathroom floor and Easton shuts the door, sitting across from me.
The steam seems to be helping Tanner—his crying has dulled to a congested whimper, but I feel my eyelids drooping.
“Here, give him to me.”Easton takes him, and I stretch out my legs.“I’m not built to see him upset.I’m in a world of hurt as he gets older.”
“I feel like I’m in a world of hurt watching you with him.”
He waggles his eyebrows.“Sexy?”
“Shirtless with a baby on your chest who looks like he’s about to fall asleep?Very sexy.”
“I like the steam making you bead with sweat.I’m hoping your shirt becomes see-through soon.”His gaze zeros in on my chest.“Come here.”
He pats the spot next to him, and I slide across the tiled floor.
I lean my head on his shoulder and put a hand on Tanner’s back.“I’m glad you were here.”
“Me too.I would’ve still been trying to find the nerve to put the thermometer in his butt if you weren’t.”
I laugh and Tanner jolts a little before calming back down.“You would have done fine.”
“You would’ve too, but I think we’re better as a team, don’t you?”Easton rests his head on top of mine.
He’s right.We are a good team.
“We’re a family,” he says, and for a minute I freeze, my hand almost slipping off of Tanner.
